Bibimbap v3

Bibimbap a

Teachers Magazine

Jeollanamdo • Volume 4 • Issue 5

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EST. 2013 • Volume 4 • Issue 5• February 2017

For questions and comments concerning articles please contact the writer via their emails listed at the end of their articles

For general inquiries contact: BibimbapNews@gmail.com general managment

Chris Devison chrisofficeofeducation@yahoo.com Dinh Nguyen d11nguye@gmail.com Lindsay Ross Ross6520@gmail.com copy editor

Colin Bishoff art director

Dinh Nguyen incoming art director

Nicole Palafox production team

Chris Devison Dinh Nguyen Nicole Palafox Elizabeth Anne Lindsay Ross Colin Bishoff Madeleine Grace photographers

Dinh Nguyen cover photo

Dinh Nguyen

All non-credited photos are used under public domain

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The Editorial Team

{bibimbap {

Chris Devison is the Provincial Coordinator for the Jeollanamdo Language Program. He has lived in South Korea for almost 10 years, and has spent six of those years in his current position.

Aside from assisting public school teachers with their contract and school life, he has a keen interest in health and wellness.

Having lived in both Western and Eastern cultures, he has a strong understanding of the healthiest practices of both worlds.

Before coming to South Korea, Dinh Nguyen was a Canadian journalist. He has 6 years experience as an editor, reporter, and desktop publishing designer. After obtaining his CELTA in 2012, he moved to Yeosu to follow his passion for teaching and traveling.

He also holds a CELTA YLE, and two DELTA certificates. He is the co-founder of ESL Nomads.

Shortly after completing his English degree at the University of Georgia, Colin Bishoff moved to South Korea in 2015 to pursue his dream of experiencing Asian culture. He has a passion for his native language in both its written and spoken forms, and he greatly respects the difference between a dash and a hyphen. An avid runner, Colin can often be found winding his way alongside the rice fields of glorious Yeonggwang.

Lindsay Ross is a Canadian teacher living in Mokpo. After getting her bachelor of education in 2011, she taught with JLP for four years at the middle and high school levels. She now works at a university in Naju. Among other articles, Lindsay researches and puts together the event calendar and Korean language sections for Bibimbap.

Elizabeth Anne has taught at all levels in public schools in South Korea since 2002, and at an International School on China’s east coast. While at University she studied Food Science, Nutrition and Biology in addition to Elementary Teaching. She grew up in multi-cultural New Zealand which influenced her to explore other cultures and food.

Madeleine Grace is an EFL teacher in Yeosu. Prior to pursuing teaching, she earned a BFA in Photography and Design. She has worked for JLP since 2015 and worked at a private academy prior to that in Mokpo. Her journey to EFL teacher includes traveling to Dubai, Nepal, and several other countries to research ESL and EFL professionals. She also has earned her M. ED in ESL Curriculum Design.

Nicole Palafox was a graphic designer and freelance photographer prior to moving to South Korea. She graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts concentrating in graphic design with an art history minor. She's been an elementary English teacher in Mokpo since August 2015. Besides photography and design, she enjoys traveling, the outdoors, cooking, and binging on Netflix shows.

Susan Sahab is an English teacher in Hwasun and is currently starting her second year in Korea. As an Art History major, she is passionate about both the historical and aesthetic significance of art and photography. Her passions include photography, music, cooking, and illustration. In an attempt to continue her art while teaching, in her free time she teaches traditional art classes at the Gwangju International Center and tries to shoot as often as possible..

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UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND EVENTS

A SEOULFUL FOOD ADVENTURE

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Now - May

Dinh Nguyen

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FOUR FACTORS FOR IMPROVED SLEEP

20 14 22 4 AN ENGAGED TEACHER

NESTS LIFECYCLE AND BURNOUT Chris Devison

Chris Devison

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Madeleine Grace

34 HAM AND VEGETABLE QUICHE Elizabeth Ann

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UPCOMING EVENTS AND HOLIDAYS NOW - FEBRUARY 26 // 강화빙어축제; Incheon Ganghwa Icefish Festival

NOW - MAY 31 // 양평딸기체험축제; Gyeonggi-do Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival

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MARCH 2 - 5 // 제주 들불축제; Jeju-do Jeju Fire Festival

APRIL 6 - 9 // 고령대가야체험축제; Gyeongsangbuk-do Goryeong Daegaya Experience Festival

APRIL 6-9 // 영암왕인문화축제; Jeollanam-do Yeongam Wangin Culture Festival

APRIL 13 - MAY 10 // 태안 튤립 축제; Chungcheongnam-do Tean Tulip Festival

APRIL 22-23 // 광주칠석고싸움놀이축제; Gwangju Gwangju Gossaum (Folklore) Festival

APRIL 22 - MAY 28 // 경기세계도자비엔날레; Gyeonggi-do Gyeonggi International CeraMIX Biennale

APRIL 26 - 29 // 진도 신비의바닷길축제; Jeollanam-do Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival

APRIL 28 - 30 // 광안리 어방축제; Busan Gwangalli Eobang (Spirit of Fisherman) Festival

APRIL 28 - MAY 14 // 고양 국제꽃박람회; Gyeonggi-do International Horticulture Goyang Korea

APRIL 28 - 30 // 연등회; Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival

APRIL 28 - MAY 7 // 양평 용문산 산나물 축제; Gyeonggi-do Ganghwa Icefish Festival

APRIL 29 - MAY 7 // 문경 전통찻사발축제; Gyeongsangbuk-do Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal (Tea Bowl) Festival

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FOUR FACTORS FOR IMPROVED SLEEP

Sleep: we all know it’s important, but why do so many of us struggle with it? A lack of sleep can lead to various health problems including weight gain, hormone imbalances, and

Chris Devison

lower immunity, and it generally taxes our overall health.

Today, many of us are overworked and face too much stress in our lives, and unfortunately, these conditions do not support the ideal factors we need to have the best night’s sleep. That being said, however, there are things we can do to help us sleep better. In this article, I will look at three categories that we can examine in our daily lives to see how we can improve our sleep. These

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are Diet, Daily Patterns, and Sleep Environment.

DIET AND SLEEP

We are all familiar with the expression “You are

these compounds is interdependent, meaning that an

what you eat.” And as clichéd as it sounds, there is

imbalance or lack in one can lead to issues in another

a great deal of truth to it. The way we eat provides a

or in overall sleep quality.

general indication of our overall health, and the healthier

we eat, the healthier we are as a whole. Our diet affects

heard that turkey dinners can make us sleepy. But turkey

everything in our lives, and sleep is no exception. Thus,

is far from the only source of tryptophan, and other

diet and sleep go hand in hand, and issues in one can

options include dairy products, potatoes, tofu, salmon,

have a definite effect on the other.

beans, lentils, oats, nuts, and seeds. A dinner of beans

In particular, the way we eat affects our regulation

and lentils, for example, or a small snack of activated nuts

of tryptophan, serotonin, melatonin, and several other

can be a great way to boost tryptophan in the evening

vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to balance

before bed. (activating nuts is very simple and can be

sleep cycles and keep us sleeping soundly all night.

accomplished by soaking the nuts in water for at least

Tryptophan is first converted to serotonin, which in turn

two hours or overnight. This removes the phytic acid and

is used to produce melatonin. The relationship among

makes them more digestible.)

We are all familiar with tryptophan and have likely

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With adequate amounts of tryptophan, our bodies

in Korea. The basic premise was that a casual stroll in a

magnesium and potassium, both of which are known

can then produce serotonin, which is known for regulating

beautiful location on a nice warm day helped to increase

to promote relaxation and blood circulation. Besides

our sleep cycles. This may seem a bit confusing since

serotonin levels and make people happier. It’s known

bananas, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, citrus fruits,

serotonin is often known as the happiness neurotransmitter,

that sunlight in the daytime hours and moderate exercise

tomatoes, and whole grains are also great sources of

and while this is true, we also need serotonin to produce

promote better sleep, and this is why a casual stroll during

potassium and magnesium. Pumpkin seeds, too, contain

melatonin—the so-called sleep hormone.

lunch hour or in the afternoon helps us to feel more alert

high levels of magnesium and zinc, both of which help

Besides eating tryptophan-rich foods, we should

and sleep better at night. Also, meditation—especially

to improve sleep quality and duration.

also focus on choosing foods that help our bodies to

a form that requires us to focus on positive thoughts or

produce serotonin and improve gut health. Kiwis, tomatoes,

feelings—can have a profound effect on our sleep.

levels. Calcium helps our bodies convert tryptophan into

cherries, and bananas, all of which are said to help with

If we eat foods with plenty of tryptophan and do

melatonin and is essential for helping us to initially fall

the production of serotonin. Fermented vegetables (like

things to promote serotonin production in our bodies,

asleep. In addition to dairy, soy products, nuts, seeds, and

kimchi), kefir, yogurt with live active cultures, kombucha,

we are on the right track to optimizing our levels of

whole grains are also strong calcium sources. Though I

miso, and high-fiber foods are also great for a healthy gut.

melatonin, as well. However, to insure that we have

personally try to avoid dairy, a warm glass of milk before

As has been stated, gut health is critical both to healthy

enough melatonin, we can also try eating melatonin-rich

bed can be a great sleep aid, as it’s high in tryptophan

sleep and to general wellbeing, so it’s crucial that we not

foods such as cherries, walnuts, oatmeal, pineapples,

and calcium.

overlook this issue. More information on this topic can

rice, barley, and bananas. Bananas, especially, are a

be found in my gut health article from the August 2016

super sleep aid, as they help to balance both serotonin

is to have a light snack before bed if needed. The key,

Edition of Bibimbap, in which I discuss gut health and

and melatonin levels. They also contain high levels of

though, is to keep it light, as eating too much—especially

Foods high in calcium also help to boost melatonin

It’s important to remember that the emphasis here

its relation to overall health in greater detail.

“It’s known that sunlight in the daytime hours and moderate exercise promote better sleep, and this is why a casual stroll during lunch hour or in the afternoon helps us to feel more alert and sleep better at night”

Despite its importance, diet isn’t the only way to

increase serotonin production. In addition to our food choices, moderate exercise, sunlight, and even positivity affect our serotonin levels. Case in point: a couple years back, there was a trend called “Slow Walking Festivals” 8

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closer to bedtime—will strain our digestive systems and

unlike sugar—may actually improve the quality of sleep.

actually interfere with our sleep. What we eat (or don’t

Natural honey contains the neurotransmitter orexin, which

bed, but thinking too hard can actually impede our sleep.

eat) is, of course, important, too, and for optimal sleep,

helps to lessen our alertness and causes us to fall asleep

Thinking about work, general problems, or other stressors

we should avoid sugars and foods high on the glycemic

more easily. Others things we should avoid too close

will only keep us awake with worry. Changing our thoughts

index throughout the day. These foods cause insulin

to bedtime are foods that are spicy, acidic (including

to more peaceful and relaxing things, however, can help

spikes, making it more difficult for us to fall and stay

tomato-based sauces), or diuretic in nature.

us to sleep better.

asleep. Grains, dairy, or any other foods we may be sensitive to are all things we should avoid before bed, as well, and we should also take our caffeine intake into

DAILY PATTERNS

Ironically, I feel I do my best thinking just before

When I have trouble sleeping, I find it helpful

to close my eyes and visualize a place that’s calming and peaceful. It may be a place I have been before or

account. Consuming caffeine just before bed obviously

It is natural for our bodies to like routine; in fact,

somewhere I imagine. Concentrating on how relaxed this

isn’t the best choice, but eliminating it as early as the

it is built right in us. This pattern is known as circadian

place makes me feel usually puts my mind in the right

afternoon may also benefit our sleep.

rhythm and is part of our genetic make-up. By matching

mood and helps my body to relax.

Alcohol consumption is another factor to consider,

our daily routine to this natural rhythm, we can improve

and although red wine may increase melatonin, alcohol

the overall health and quality of our lives—including, of

techniques, meditation, yoga nidra, or progressive muscle

has adverse effects on sleep. We may fall asleep easily

course, the quality of our sleep.

relaxation are also great ways to wind down at night, and

after a drink, but the quality and duration of sleep is

The first thing we should do is to keep a regular

video examples of all of these can be found on YouTube.

affected. A nice, warm cup of chamomile tea is a better

routine of sleep. Eight hours seems to be the magic

Trying one technique specifically designed for sleep later

option, as it rests the mind and relaxes the body. This is

number known to most of us, and we should thus aim to

at night or incorporating several into a regular evening

best taken unsweetened or with a little honey, which—

go to bed with enough time to sleep for eight solid hours

practice earlier in the evening are both ways to put our

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Besides visualization, prayer, deep breathing

before waking up to get ready for work. Maintaining this

bodies in the proper mood for sleep.

routine even during weekends is best, as it helps to keep

our bodies in rhythm. Those of us struggling to get out

and avoid anything strenuous or over stimulating,

of bed in the mornings likely need to go to sleep earlier.

including social media. I also try to put my cell phone in

Sometimes, however, just feeling tired enough to

another room so there is no temptation to check it once

go to bed is not so easy. If we are not mentally prepared

I am in bed. Although I do often watch TV, this isn’t the

to go to sleep, we may find ourselves tossing and turning

best activity because it can be stimulating and is also

in bed for some time before we actually fall asleep. How

an unnecessary source of light. A better alternative is

our entire day plays out greatly affects our ability to fall

reading.

asleep at night, and for this reason, it’s a good idea to

develop a bedtime routine. For me, this means creating

bedroom should ideally be a place of rest. By maintaining

a more relaxing mood all evening. When done as a sort

a relaxing space and avoiding other activities (with one

of pre-sleep ritual, the whole process of these things

notable exception for which we need not go into detail),

convinces my brain that it’s time to sleep. Let’s look at

our brains will associate the bedroom with a relaxing

some things we can do (or avoid doing) every day to

place meant only for sleep, helping us to wind down

help set the mood for a better slumber at night.

more easily at night.

I like to do more relaxing activities in the evening

Although it’s easy to let it turn into a workspace, the

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Earlier in the evening, I like to take a hot bath or

shower or do a foot bath to relax. I also dim the lights in my house and use relaxing aroma therapy oils. When using scented oils, it’s good to be cautious about the scents we use, as some may cause us to be alert while others will help us relax. I like to use lavender or a special calming blend I keep at home.

At least once a week, I set an aside an evening for

relaxation which includes a bath, facemask, and some sort of mediation. I always sleep well on these nights, and I feel the relaxation helps me to sleep better throughout the rest of the week, too.

Something else to consider is napping, as taking

naps during the day may make it more difficult to sleep at night. Those of us who do nap should aim to keep them short—no longer than 20 minutes. Yoga nidra, meditation, or deep breathing exercises are also ways to boost energy if we feel tired during the day, and these may in fact be better than naps, as they allow us both to relax and to remain alert.

Another alternative is to try doing something mildly

stimulating during the day. A quick walk, especially in

THE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

Besides our food choices and daily routines, our

strong electro-magnetic currents. Turning them off will

sleep environments affect the quality of our sleep, too.

reduce the strength, but it’s even better to unplug them

We should thus examine our sleeping arrangements and

altogether.

look for possible ways to make our places of rest more

conducive to sleeping.

reduce the amount of negative ions in the atmosphere

As mentioned, dark environments are always

produced by electronic gadgets. If this is true, they are

best for sleeping, but temperature is also a big factor.

not only helpful to our wellbeing, but look pretty stylish,

Our bodies naturally decrease in temperature when we

too.

sleep by about 2°C. For this reason, we can encourage

Himalayan pink salt lamps have been said to help

Another thing we can do is to use earplugs or a

our bodies to sleep better by setting the thermostat back

source of white noise so we aren’t as easily disturbed

by two degrees before bed in order to match our bodies’

once we do fall asleep. Investing in a quality pillow, bed

natural drop in temperature.

clothes, and mattress are also critical to a healthy sleep,

and it’s a good idea to periodically flip the mattress, too.

Next, besides the unnecessary lighting, electronic

devices also produce electro-magnetic fields which

can affect our sleep. Some things, such as electricity

clean. Just as we shouldn’t fill our bodies with junk, we

meters and fuse boxes, are much stronger than others.

should also avoid allowing our bedrooms to become

If our beds are near these, we may want to think about

our designated dumping grounds. A cluttered or messy

moving them. Furthermore, heated blankets or the ever-

bedroom is less calming and can thus distract us from

so-popular heated floor mats found in Korea produce

what it is we truly need to do there: sleep.

As a final note, it’s important to keep our bedrooms

the sunshine, is often helpful. A good goal is to get at least 30 minutes of sunlight every day. As mentioned,

"By matching our daily routine to this natural rhythm, we can improve the overall health and quality of our lives—including, of course, the quality of our sleep."

this helps boost our serotonin levels, thus elevating the necessary melatonin levels for sleep at night.

Our brains secrete more melatonin when it ’s

dark. During the day, we should try to have more natural sunlight exposure to keep us alert. This means letting natural light into our offices, classrooms, or homes as well as avoiding artificial light after the sun goes down.

When it’s time to sleep, we should make sure the room is completely dark. This means getting rid of all forms of artificial light, including all those annoying lights found on electrical appliances throughout the room. Blackout

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curtains are a big help, too, as they help to block outside light sources from entering the room.

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AN ENGAGED TEACHER Madeleine Grace

EFL teachers and instructors in many countries are subject to a system that

works much like a “revolving door.” This type of system is set up for EFL teachers to come in, teach for 6 months to a year, and then leave again. Unfortunately, these types of systems usually do not allow for or provide much training or opportunity for advancement. In South Korea, the standard is 1-year contracts, with teachers and instructors staying between 1-3 years on average. Thus, if we consider that teachers often transfer schools, change academies, or leave after their year is up, we realize that the students see a constant rotation of teachers. While such exposure can in some ways help students by providing access to different accents and types of speech, it can also hurt their chances for successful learning for these same reasons. This constant rotation can also impact the students’ drive to learn because they might think the teacher/instructor does not care or that next year a new person will come anyway—so why bother trying? For teachers, understanding and recognizing these problems only begs the following questions: how can we break the cycle, build trust, or try to bridge the transition?

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BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP

Students who can see that their teacher cares are more likely to also

care about the class or teacher. I am not saying we must be best friends with each student or that we should bribe them with candies and cookies (I strongly dislike this method, as it leads to entitlement), but we should try to show them that we do, in fact, care about their learning and lives. And this doesn’t have to be in a big way; we can show interest in the small things by requesting to join in their soccer matches, asking about their hobbies, or just sitting in places that are more accessible than a teacher’s office.

Building a relationship with classes and students can be very hard if the co-teacher is disengaged, but persistence speaks volumes and consistency is key. Even if we only establish a small relationship with a few classes or students, the trickle-down effect can be quite strong.

BRIDGING THE GAP

Those of us who are going home or changing schools should make

an effort to get in touch with the teachers who will fill our spots. Once we find out who will be replacing us, we should try to prepare our classes for the language differences that might come. For example, for an American whose replacement is from South Africa, it might be helpful to expose the students to the alternate spellings and pronunciations. We can also try showing movies, TV shows, or music videos that feature mixed accents and pronunciations. This way, the students get the familiar speech patterns of the incoming teacher along with anything new and can ask questions about things they don’t understand. As an American, I know Hollywood makes cool movies, but the UK makes some great TV programs!

BEING HONEST

FINAL THOUGHTS

Co-teachers and students know when a teacher/

In the long run, these suggestions may be helpful

instructor does not want to be at school or in class, and

both to teachers and students, as they allow teachers who

these negative emotions will only rub off onto the students.

would be better suited for a position to enter the spot

The “fake it till you make it” mentality only works for so

and prevent constant turnover. These tips also provide a

long, and those of us who are struggling should think long

jumping-off point to help teachers transfer more smoothly

and hard about why we feel unhappy. Is it the age level?

and to make it easier for schools and students to develop

The school atmosphere? Teaching? Or something more

relationships with NESTs (Native English Speaking Teachers).

serious? Once we peg the source of the problem, we should

This in no way says that someone is a bad teacher, but simply

work to change or improve it. This might mean changing

admits that the placement is not best suited to that teacher’s

schools, changing age levels, working to improve co-teacher

skills or needs.

communication, etc. Whatever it takes, we should do, because in the end, this negative energy will only continue to build. If left to grow, the impact of this negativity will be long-lasting both for us as teachers and for the students, ultimately leaving us feeling resentful and the students

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feeling unmotivated.

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A SEOULFUL FOOD ADVENTURE Photo essay

By Dinh Nguyen

Whether it’s for a staycation or a long weekend, as expats Seoul is often on the radar when we want to treat ourselves or take a break from the mundane. The city of 10 million people comes with a variety of food options that are sure to quench homesickness and all other types of cravings. Unfortunately, in a city so large it is also easy to overlook truly good eats, and end up with subpar meals. But if we choose carefully, a staycation can also become an exotic food tour— a gourmet food adventure comparable to the ones we do overseas.

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MULTICULTURALISM IN

SOUTH KOREA Ansan | Closest Subway Station: Ansan

From top to bottom: Lemongrass beef, and pork and shrimp spring rolls from Dieu Hien

There is a place in Seoul where you can get authentic ethnic food without the fancy price tag or alterations. In Ansan, where 2/3 of the population are non-Korean, and over 1400 businesses (mostly restaurants) are owned by foreigners, no spices are lift behind. The food are not adjusted to fit the Korean taste bud. There is a large enough non-Korean market to sustain businesses who choose to use traditional flavours. Unlike most places in Korea, here you can find Indian, Nappanee, Thai, Chinese, and Vietnamese food prepared by people from their respective countries.

The most authentic Vietnamese food in South Korea is found in Ansan. As the customer base demands it, the Pho’ here is the never watered down, and the chefs are generous with their use of traditionally fresh herbs like cilantro and basil. They do what they can to get the flavours as close to home as possible. If you look closely you might even notice other cultural facets. Take for example, my favourite Vietnamese establishment in Ansan: Dieu Hien Quan.

While Korean and English speakers are presented with a basic menu, if you can read the language, you’ll find that items that are only written inVietnamese are a little more peculiar to the restaurant’s mother-culture. At first glance I saw dishesthatincludedturtle,rabbit,frog,andcongealedrawbloodjelly/pudding.

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dinh nguyen

A SEOULFUL FOOD ADVENTURE

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A VALLEY OF

FOOD Mangwon dong | Closest Subway Station: Mangwon

In-between the Han River and the busy area of Hongdae, lies a once quiet neighborhood that is now bustling with trendy restaurants, food vendors and cafĂŠs, among quaint bookstores and art galleries. Mangwon dong is one of those places that is best explored by foot. It is easy to spend an entire day here wandering and discovering hidden food gems. Some gems, like fried chicken street vendors are in plain sight, while others are obscured by side streets and back alleys.

MOON IN THE LAB Moon in the Lab is one of those places that are easy to miss if you stick to the main street or are not mindful of details in your surroundings. At first I thought it was an art gallery or utensil store. After further observation I discovered that the small establishment was a European Asian fusion bistro.

Moon in the Lab is owned by three guys who like to experiment with food. The menu is always changing, and so is the beautiful foods plating.

• 57-120, Mangwon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Top left and right photos: Crispy beef rolls with Chinese sweet and sour sauce Middle left: Pumpkin bread sticks, Pockey style Bottom left: Fresh olives. All food from Moon in the Lab

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A TALE OF TWO

Itaewon (outer ring) Closest station: Noksapyeong Itaewonis hailed as a gourmet food Mecca of Seoul.The problem is that for most people who hear this, what comes to mind is the main area of Itaewon with all the night life, and expat get-togethers. But that area is only half ofthestatement.OntheoutskirtsofItaewonliesneighborhoodsbooming withgourmetfoodculture.Callithiporeccentric,theseareasisnothinglike the main stretch of Itaewon. Here you can find less expats, and more places that do things like let you order cocktails while getting a haircut.

ITAEWONS Itaewon (main strip) | Closest Subway Station: Itaewon

Second Ground is one of the best places for Fish and chips in Korea.

Whilemostrestaurantsdon’tgenerallygiveyouachoiceoffishwhenyouorder, atSecondGroundyougetasmallselectionthatincludesCodandHalibut.The chips(fries)thatcomeswithyourmealiswellpreparedtoo.Theyarefriedtwice, onceonlowtemperaturetosoftenthepotato,andasecondtimeatahighertemperature to make the chips crispy.The fish and chips are also reasonably price.

Theystartat11,000wonforasmallsize,andgoesupto30,000wonforapatter.

The home of shitter faced drinking, plus size clothing, and non-Korean food — every expat knows about Itaewon. Juxtaposing with the dingy, rundown exterior of its main street, the neighborhood is also known for some of the best food in Seoul.

While there is a decent selection of quality restaurants to choose from (like Michelin star Thai restaurant: Bua) my favourite food thing to do here is to get breakfast— specifically pancakes.

• 600 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu |Noksapyeong station. Exit using the

elevator next to the convenience store.Walk over the bridge and take a left.

The Flying Pan Blue serves cloud-like puffy pancakes full of fresh toppings. You can choose between sweet (like banana, walnut and ricotta chesses) and savory (like mushrooms and bacon). They also serve a delicious section of wholesome salads, soups and beverages. I always get the strawberry smoothie.

Eclair by Garuharu specializes in a wide section of French eclairs. They makethedessertonsitebehindaclearwindowwhereallcansee.Theraspberry eclair is super sweet and tart. It has a refreshing aroma stemming from a rich raspberry puree that spells out“quality.”The rose petal eclair is not as sweet.With anearthyflavor,itlooksandtasteelegant.Bewareofthesaltedcaramelandbutter éclair. While delicious, the large curly balls on it are actually chunks of butter.

• 123-7 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu |Turn left on to the side

street after passing the Hamilton Hotel going towards Itaewan station). It will be on you right (bottom floor, set of stairs next to the Thai restaurant.

• Nksapyeong exit 2. Take a left and keep walking and then turn right at the police station. It will be across the street from a CU.

Flat Iron is an artisan sandwich kitchen down the streets from Éclair by

Canucks (originally Maple House) is another place worth

Garuharu,wheretheownersdesignedeverything,fromthelighting,utensils, to the food. I say Kitchen because like many places in the neighborhood, Flat Iron has an aspect of personalized uniqueness.The restaurant is laid out like a Kitchen. You walk into an area with one long wooden slab table encompassedbycupboards,counters,andappliances.Thisiswherealltheguestssit and socialise regardless if they know each other or not. The owners, a wife and husband duo, talks with the customers while they prepare an array of sandwichesmadewithfreshlybakedartisanbread.TheKitchenisnamedafter the Flat Iron building in New York, as one of the owners is passionate about architecture and design. The Flat Iron is his favourite building.

mentioningsimplybecausetherearenotmanyquality restaurants in South Korea that serves Canadian cuisine. The poutine here is probably the best in all of Korea; or at least, the most authentic.

My only problem is that they put very little cheese curds (yes they have cheese curds) on it. The fries feel a bit naked.

• 2F, 145 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu (on the main road next to

Manimal Smoke House Ribs, briskets, meat and more meat. If you miss barbeque restaurants back home, this is a must visit place. I had the Chicken, pulled pork, and cranberry ribplatter with,aside of greenchilimacandcheesebecausetheywereoutof brisket. Their briskets are popular, and often sell out early. Still, I was very impressed with what I got.The chicken was so tender that the word“dry”cease to exist in my vocabulary for the night.They mac and cheese and the ribs are perfect comfort food that are good even when you don’t need comforting.

24 dinh nguyen

• 2f Noksapyeong-daero 40-gil, Yongsan-gu,

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Green curry burger from Brooklyn, the Burger Joint in Gourmet 494

Lobster grilled sanwhich and fries from Lobster Bar in Gourmet 494 dinh nguyen

GOURMET 494 Apgujeong | Closest Subway Station: Apgujeong- Rodeo

Apujeongiswherethecelebritiesandpeoplewhodon’tneedtodistinguishbetweenregular paperandcashcometoshop.Hereyouwillfinddesignerboutiques,artgalleries,andnamebrand establishments (like Louis Vuitton) within custom designed architecture. If you’re here for the food and don’t care for $20,000 night stands, I recommend starting with Gourmet 494 Fusion tocos from Vatos Tocos in Gourmet 494

Gourmet 494 took some of the city’s best restaurants (like Vatos Tocos) and put mini versions of them into a food court, with gourmet grocery stores and wine shops. You can get anything from lobster rolls, to tacos, to quality handmade burgers.

Afterordering,youaregivenabuzzerdevicethatattachestoaslotonyourtable(anywherein the food court). You do not have to pick up your food. The device will tell vendor where you are siting, and they will bring your order over when it’s done.

• Apgujeong-RodeosubwayExit7.Youdon’tevenhavetoleavethestation,thereisaconnectingentrance.

Fried kimchi fries at Gourmet 494 26

A SEOULFUL FOOD ADVENTURE dinh nguyen

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NESTS LIFECYCLE AND BURNOUT Chris Devison

Having assisted hundreds if not thousands of

Most of us will probably agree that working as a

teachers during the 7 years I have spent working for the

teacher here is generally a very positive experience, and I

Jeollanamdo Office of Education, I have encountered

can happily say that most of the teachers who work in this

countless problems and almost every imaginable situation.

province have a wonderful experience at their schools and

My time here has taught me a great deal, and has helped me

in Korea as a whole. That being said, however, living and

grow as an educator as well as an individual.

teaching in Korea surely comes with its share of obstacles

and issues, particularly in regards to cultural adjustment and

When I worked as a teacher, my focus was my

students. I pondered how I could deliver material in ways that

teacher burnout. Both of these can have a negative impact

would enable my students not only to learn easily, but also

on a teacher’s time here if left unattended, and it is thus my

to enjoy doing so. I also thought about how I could inspire

goal to approach these problems rationally and to offer

them to study English on their own time and in their own

some tips in overcoming them.

more meaningful ways. Although my job today keeps me in

the office instead of the classroom, there remain a number

noticing distinct patterns in the typical lifecycle of the Native

of parallels between what I do as administrator and what I

English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) who live here. From these

used to do as a teacher. As was the case in the classroom,

patterns, I have learned to distinguish common issues and

there are many things for me to consider in my current job, as

possible ways of troubleshooting for solutions. Over time, I

well, and though the learning curve was initially quite steep,

have observed what seem to be 4 distinct stages that a NEST

I eventually learned to do things more effectively as I gained

can go through, with a possible fifth also deserving mention.

experience in my position.

These stages are similar to the stages of culture shock, yet I

One thing that has been very helpful to me has been

refrain from using this term because shock seems too severe a word for what the majority of teachers experience.

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Korea, even if there are things they may dislike. They learn to

Stage.” During this stage, everything seems new, exciting,

live without the things unavailable to them here and manage

with. It is my hope that teachers who find themselves

about a nation’s history and culture will help teachers gain

and fantastic, and new teachers often become infatuated

well with what is. This is the “Mastery Stage.”

facing this situation will still fulfill their contracts and remain

a better understanding of how things work in their new

with the people and culture. Most soon learn, however that

cooperative with others even if they are unhappy with their

environment. Another strategy might be to investigate the

Korea—like any other country—is no utopia, and they may then

the rare teacher will experience. Although it can happen at

lives in Korea. Typically, people who are having difficulty

work of Geert Hofsdtede, whose country comparison tool

find themselves entering the “Negotiation Stage.” This phase

any point, this stage is most likely to happen close to the end

in the negotiation phase, or who feel unhappy with their

and theories on cultural dimensions can offer valuable insight

is marked by the first miscommunications, a bad experience

of someone’s contract, in which case it usually leads to an

situations in Korea at any other point, have ways to cope.

into how Korean culture compares to that of other countries.

or two, and a shift towards a more critical outlook or attitude

abrupt end of that teacher’s time here. This is often triggered

The comparison tool can be found by clicking here.

toward Korea in general. Teachers start to notice the cultural

by a negative experience in which the teacher becomes

differences and loss of communication and begin to miss

fed-up and realizes that it’s time to move on. I call this the

the language barrier and the resulting loss of independence.

home more.

“Check-out Stage,” as it is marked by a pervading sense of

When new teachers find themselves in a country whose

apathy that often leads to a decline in relationships with

culture and language are unfamiliar to them, they soon

teachers become accustomed to the differences and learn

co-teachers and other locals in general. NESTs in this stage

realize that they do not have all the necessary skills to

what to expect in everyday life. Life becomes normalized,

become less cooperative and understanding—and in rare

or as normal as life can be after moving to a foreign country.

cases even unreasonable or confrontational—and as a result,

Over time, as teachers begin to find comfort in their routines,

miscommunications or misunderstandings become much

it becomes easier for them to accept things as they are in

more common.

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The first stage is what we might call the “Honeymoon

From here begins the “Adjustment Phase” in which

Unfortunately, I have noticed one more stage which

Admittedly, the check-out stage is difficult to deal

As always, the first step to solving a problem is to

acknowledge its existence. Experiencing issues in a new country or career is normal, especially when the situation involves a new culture with an unknown language. It is here

that gaining some cultural insight can be of use, as learning

Another issue I often find teachers struggling with is

function in society. Included in this is the fact that they can no longer fully express themselves to most of the people around them, which can quickly lead to frustration. This is where studying up on some Korean will come in handy, as https://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html

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Next, “Depersonalization” measures the extent to

which a teacher’s attitude becomes negative towards his/her students, coworkers, or the teaching profession. Teachers undergoing depersonalization often isolate themselves from coworkers and feel the need for more mental health days. To deal with this issue, teachers need to realize that some things are simply beyond their control. Trying to change things they have no control over is pointless, and teachers should instead focus their attention on things they can improve, such as lesson preparation and classroom management.

The last factor to assess burnout is “Personal

Accomplishment.” This term is used to measure how goal-oriented a teacher is as well as his/her sense of accomplishment and feelings of job satisfaction. Teachers should set realistic and obtainable goals, develop a means to assess their students’ progress, and then take time to reflect on their own teaching practice. Self-reflection will help teachers make better decisions in the future and language skills will only enhance a teacher’s experience

here by providing a skill necessary to managing daily life.

three factors when assessing the extent of one’s burnout:

might involve critically analyzing lessons, recording classes,

particular, is a highly stressful position. As a result, teachers

Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal

keeping a diary, or receiving constructive feedback from

Language and culture are intertwined, and just as studying

often find themselves burning out easily if they lack the

Accomplishment.

administrators or peers.

the history lends valuable insight into the way this country

appropriate coping mechanisms. This is especially true

functions, learning the language helps teachers to better

for teachers working in foreign countries, who must face

the general feeling of being over-extended in one’s

professional development and professional learning

understand how Koreans communicate and enables them to

the struggles of living in another country in addition to the

work. Teachers who suffer from this issue become overly

communities can offer the support some teachers may be

develop more meaningful relationships with locals.

normal stress of being a teacher. TEFL is very different than

dependent on routine, grow fatigued, and then lose interest

lacking. These are highly motivating and can help teachers

the regular curriculum classes that most teachers base their

in teaching. For this reason, and despite the fact that it

troubleshoot issues and share ideas. Many of these are free

learn about the language and culture, things can still be

teaching and learning on, and as a result, the expectations

involves more work, teachers should try to avoid unnecessary

or inexpensive and include online webinars, conferences, or

difficult. For this reason, it’s important to maintain current

of many NESTs do not match the realities of the teaching

routine. One way to do so is by improving one’s autonomy

KoTESOL monthly meetings.

support systems from back home or to work to develop

context in Korea. Korea has a very different learning and

in teaching. It’s always good to take an active role in making

new ones in Korea. Maintaining a healthy balance of diet,

teaching style than do most Western countries, and this can

decisions regarding the teaching context, as teachers

benefits of their position. Here may be difficulties, but

exercise, and sleep is critical, as is finding an appropriate

immediately set us down the road to burnout if we aren’t

often know their situations better than administrators and

having the opportunity to explore a new culture that acts as

method to channel stress. These are especially important

careful.

publishers. If restrained by a textbook, teachers should try

a base for other travel opportunities—all the while receiving a

during a new teacher’s first few months in Korea, as it can

to remain creative by altering things and adding in their own

decent pay check and plenty of vacation time, among other

be very difficult for the body to adjust to changes in time,

the issue of burnout, the “Maslach Burnout Inventory” is

ideas when appropriate. In addition, the teacher should try to

benefits—is a pretty great thing.

schedule, climate, and diet.

a great way to help us better understand and overcome

be responsible for a portion of the students’ grade, perhaps

the situation. More specifically, this resource examines

by administering speaking tests, assigning participation

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Even when we apply ourselves by taking time to

Stress is a normal part of adult life, and teaching, in

All safeguards aside, if we do find ourselves facing

The first of these, “Emotional Exhaustion,” is

points, or creating test questions.

In addition to the strategies named above, both

It is always helpful for teachers to remember the

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HAM AND VEGETABLE QUICHE Elizabeth Ann

Do you consider yourself a food connoisseur? Are you fond of sashaying along the food stalls in search of tantalizing new treats for your taste buds? Do you enjoy trying your hand at the tried-and-true recipes of all-star chefs?

This quick and easy ham and vegetable quiche is adapted from a recipe by New Zealand’s own culinary master, Alison Holst. This particular recipe is known as a self-crusting quiche, as it calls for self-rising flour in place of the traditional pastry crust. The crust just forms on its own during the cooking process!

This recipe works great with ham, sausage, or even potatoes, and it’s an excellent crowd-pleaser when you’re in a pinch. Made from simple ingredients, this quiche makes for a delicious and hearty meal for any time of day—breakfast, brunch, or dinner! Why not try it the next time you have friends over for a gathering?

Serves 4

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INGREDIENTS

METHOD

3 eggs, beaten

1. Set the oven to 180°C.

1 onion, finely diced

2. Sift the flour into a bowl and stir the water

1 tablespoon oil

gradually into the flour, pushing out any lumps.

1/2 cup self-rising flour (1/2 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon of

3. Add the milk and beaten eggs and season with

baking powder)

salt and pepper.

1 cup milk

4. Put the chopped vegetables and ham into a

1/2 cup water

greased pan.

Chopped spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and

5. Pour the egg and milk mix over the vegetables

broccoli

and ham.

Chopped ham or ham substitute

6. Add the grated cheese.

Grated cheese

7. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 180°C , or until golden

Salt and pepper to taste

brown.

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